201 KAR 2:175. Emergency/seventy-two (72) hour prescription refills.
RELATES TO: KRS Chapters 217, 315
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 217.215(3), 315.191
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: This administrative regulation sets out the conditions whereby a prescription may be refilled in an emergency situation and the prescriber is unavailable.
Section 1. If a pharmacist receives a request for a prescription refill with no refill authorized and the pharmacist is unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the prescriber, the pharmacist may dispense a one (1) time emergency refill of up to a seventy-two (72) hour supply of the medication when:
(1) The prescription refill is not for a controlled substance;
(2) The medication is essential to the maintenance of life or to the continuation of therapy in chronic conditions;
(3) In the pharmacist's professional judgment, the interruption of therapy might reasonably produce undesirable health consequences or may be detrimental to the patient's welfare and cause physical or mental discomfort;
(4) The pharmacist notes on the prescription record the date, the quantity dispensed, and his name or initials; and
(5) In all situations an emergency refill must be followed by authorization from the prescriber for continued therapy.
Section 2. Violation of any provision of this administrative regulation constitutes unethical or unprofessional conduct in accordance with KRS 315.121. (9 Ky.R. 1265; Am. 10 Ky.R. 5; eff. 6-1-83; 16 Ky.R. 798; eff. 1-12-90.)